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The Hoke County News - Established 1928
Volume LXXIV Number 51 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
~ journal
The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
S10 PER YEAR Thursday, April 14, 1983
Phone Rates
Jump Here
By Sherry Matthews
Higher basic telephone rates
went into effect last week in Hoke
County, as Carolina Telephone
began charging operating expenses
to customers' monthly bills.
The phone company announced
last Thursday that bills would in
crease and be reflected in the
statements received after April 6.
For some 4,400 residential
customers already on the Raeford
exchange this means an increase
from the existing rate of $7.20 to
$7.90.
Raeford businesses did not fair
as well. The basic rate for business
| phones on the Raeford exchange
will increase $1 from $17.95 to
$18.95.
Hoke County residents who are
on the Red Springs exchange will
see basic service rates increase
$1.15 per month from $6.95 to
$8.10. Red Springs exchange
business phones will be hiked by
$2.05 per month.
Fayetteville residential phones
| will go up $1.50 per month from
$10.45 to $11.95. Business phones
in Fayetteville will increase $2.40
per month.
The newest rate increase is being
blamed on deregulation and the
"high cost of living."
"Inflation has hit us just like
any other company," Carolina
Telephone spokesman J. L..
Holmes of the Fayetteville office
said.
) Deregulation seems to be
another thorn in the side of the
phone companies.
"Deregulation is bringing higher
rates to local service as competi
tion increases in long-distance ser
vice and equipment sales, which
traditionally have subsidized local
service," Vice President of Ad
ministration T. P. Williamson said
in a press release which announced
) the hike.
Even with the increase,
telephone company officers believe
the service they administer "re
mains an excellent buy considering
the benefits it provides to homes
and businesses."
The overall rate hike which was
approved by the stale Utilities
Commission, will be a $13.9
million for Carolina Telephone.
)
Around Town
b> Sam Morris
Mavbc the rain has stopped for
awhile. We notice as we drive
around the counts that most fields
are still under water and it vs ill be
some time before a tractor can get
(here to prepare the soil for plant
ing. The days of the horse and
mule to prepare the land would
make it almost impossible at this
late date. The tractor with the
heavy drags and plows can catch
up very quickls when the land does
dry out. We hope thai the farmers
don't get too lar behind.
Anyway, we are fortunate here
n Hoke County compared to the
people in other parts of the nation
.hat have been flooded. It is hard
lo imagine as you watch pictures
:>n television that people will clean
up their homes and resume life
again in a few days.
Yes, we all have troubles, but
he fellow in the next state seems to
have more problems than ours.
Have you seen and heard
:nough about N.C. State winning
ihe NCAA Championship? Of
:ourse if you are a State fan, you
will answer NO. On the other hand
most others will say that they have
;een red about enough.
As of this writing we don't know
f the 'Pack' will get to the White
House, but if they do, they can
well represent North Carolina.
The Hoke County United Way
drive is now underway and they
need your support. Read elsewhere
jbout the agencies that will be aid
:d by this fund and then give
generously to the volunteer that
rails on you.
(See AROUND TOWN, page I OA)
wsmim i " ^
New Superintendent
Robert .4. Setson (standing), the new Hoke County School Superintendent, addresses school board members
and the press after being named for the post Tuesday by hoard chairman Rill C ameron ( seated left).
New Superintendent Appointed
By Sherr> Matthews
After nearly five months of ac
cepting applications, the Hoke
County School Board Tuesday
morning unanimously voted to
name a new superintendent.
Robert A. Nelson, 52, of
Alamance County was named
Hoke County Superintendent by
board Chairman W.W. Cameron
with an overwhelming approval by
the board members during a
meeting specially called for the an
nouncement.
Nelson, whose application was
received February 25, made four
requested visits to Hoke County
before being officially asked lo
take over the helm.
"I am very happy to be here,
and I'm looking forward to work
ing with the board and the entire
school system," Nelson said.
"Everybody is extremely happy
about this decision," Cameron
said.
The decision came after the
board had reviewed 43 applica
tions that had been sent in since
mid-January.
According to Cameron, the
board narrowed down the choices
to six top candidates and inter
viewed three of the six.
"Bob was our first choice,"
Cameron said.
Nelson, who has been
superintendent of the Alamance
County School System for almost
12 years, and previously super
intendent of the Morganton City
Schools, is looking forward to
residing in a small town.
Graham, the city where Nelson
has lived for the past 12 years is
Jarger than Raeford and Alamance
County is larger than Hoke.
"I enjoy the small town at
mosphere." Nelson said.
(See SCHOOL, page 1 1 A)
Sewer Woes Ease,
Firm's Fines Held
By Sherry Matthews
Members of the Raeford City
Council deferred action Monday
night on sewer discharge fines
pending against the House of
Raeford because construction on a
waste water treatment plant is
nearing completion.
The turkey plant worked three
days last week with the new
system, and are now trying to get
the rest of the bugs out. City
Manager Ron Matthews said dur
ing the regular monthly meeting.
According to Matthews, plant
administrators are hoping the
system will be completed by the
end of this week.
The pre-treatment facility is
aiding the plant in bringing its
discharge in line with a municipal
ordinance.
After the House of Raeford an
nounced plans to construct a pre
treatment facility, council
members voted unanimously
earlier this year to delay over
S30.000 in fines levied against the
plant for discharge violations.
The city is operating under a
warning from the state Depart
ment of Natural Resources and
Community Development (NRC I))
because of discharge violations in
to Rockfish Creek.
Many of the city's sewer woes
have been pinned on the House of
Raeford by North Carolina of
ficials, and had not action been
taken by the turkey plant. Raeford
could have faced fines up to
SI 0,000 per day from the state.
Matthews said Tuesday the city
had not heard officially from the
state although the NRCD deadline
for a 90-day grace period given to
correct the sewer problems had
passed .
House of Raeford is expected to
have the equipment in full opera
tion soon, and the sewer problem
should then be resolved, city of
ficials have said.
W ooley St. !\oci
In other action Monday night,
councilmen unanimously voted to
apply tor a Community Block
Grant . sponsored by the federal
Department of Housing and Ur
ban Development HUD).
The Wooley Street community
was named as the central area for
which the grant would be applied.
Before Monday night's council
meeting, a public hearing was held
with over 20 Wooley Street
residents attending in support of
developing the neighborhood.
Lumberton engineering firm
Koonce, Noble, and Associates
spokesman Skip Green reviewed
the application process for the
councilmen and residents during
the public hearing.
According to Green, housing
rehabilitation would be the goal to
shoot for on the grant application.
"This grant is set up to help low
and moderate income individuals
and cleaning up this area's housing
does not mean beautifying it,"
Green said.
For the grant to be accepted, the
intent must be to bring homes in
that area, not presently meeting
housing codes, up to that level.
Green said
The city would be competing
with other cities for the grant
money. Green added.
I ast vear. onlv 41 cities out of
200 applying, received grant
monies. Citv Manager Ron Mat
thews said.
"Our chances are about one in
five of getting funded." Matthews
said
"We like what we see and will
support >oti in your efforts."
( See SI; W E R . page 1 1 A )
Crews Working To Complete Building
I
Master of the saw
This w orker is drawing off boards
in preparation for the sawing to
come. He is one of many men on
the joh at the Pilot Huilding at
tempting to finish construction so
that the county offices can he mov
ed hy the end of Slav or the first of
June.
Sales Tax Hike
Backed By Hoke
B> Sherr> Matthews
A one cent sales lax proposal,
which has been sitting on a state
Legislative finance committee
burner since March 14, is being
supported by Hoke County Com
missioners, County Manager
James Martin said.
House Bill 426 will allow coun
ties to increase sales taxes by one
cent and calls for proceeds to be
distributed on a 50-50 basis be
tween the state and the county,
Martin said.
According to Martin, the funds
generated by the proposed bill will
bring in about $120,000 extra to
the county government which will
be used in the General Fund
Revenue with "no strings attached
by the state."
Of the monies collected from the
proposed tax increase the Raeford
city government would receive
1 5?7o, with the balance going to the
county government, Martin said.
There have been numerous bills
proposed in the General Assembly
this year to increase the sales tax,
but none have passed.
(See SALES TAX. paRe 11 A)
B> Sherrv Matthews
Saws are buzzing, hammers are
pounding, and men are baring
their backs, in an effort to com
plete the reno\ations needed
before the Hoke County offices
can be moved.
At present, the county offices
are located in the courthouse an
nex and house 1 1 employees.
After renovations are completed
the offices will be moved to the old
Pilot Building on Main Street.
County Manager James Martin
said.
County taxpayers are spending
close to SI 50,000 for the building
and repairs.
The decision to move the county
offices was made because the
sheriff's department needed and
requested extra space. Martin said.
"They wanted to expand the
prisoner visting area so that more
than two prisoners could visit at
one time." Martin said.
Space was also requested to ac
commodate a waiting area for
prison visitors.
At present, visitors must wait in
the outer administrative office,
Martin said.
An architect was hired to give an
estimate on how much the renova
tions and expansion would cost,
Martin said.
"To bring the expanded area up
to North Carolina jail standards,
the architect estimated the cost
would run around $150,000, Mar
tin said.
W^7 - '
mi m ' ?> I
Bird populated tree
The sun came out Monday, bringing with it chirping birds housing in the
tree limbs.
I he Hoke County Commis
sioners decided to look at oihci
buildings available thai would
serve more than one purpose.
The Pilot Building was the result
ol that search, Martin said.
\Nith the count y oft. ices moving
to the Pilot Building, the ad
ministrative area ol the sheriff's
department will move into the
courthouse annex, leaving room
lor expansion of the prison nailing
facility, Martin said.
The move will give the sheriffs
department extra space that was
badly needed and allow the county
offices to be expanded as well,
Martin said.
All these changes and renova
tions can be done for about the
Raeford Cracking Down
On Errant Dog Owners
Raeford officials are contacting
city dog owners, who have ap
parently forgotten to registei and
pay taxes on their animals.
Notices are being sent out to ap
proximately 400 owners, who
registered to pay county dog fees
but failed to pay city charges bv
the February 15 deadline.
Although the owners arc over ?()
days past due, C ity Managet Ron
Matthews says the late payers will
not be penalized.
"We won't penalize them this
time, as long as they come on in
and pay," the city manager said
1 ess than 40 dog owners in the
city registered their animals and
paid the $2.50 fee on time, Mat
thews said
Names of the 4(X) late payers
showed up after county tax listings
were turned over to the city. Mat
thews said, noting that the county
provides the listings for Raeford as
a regular service.
According to the city ordinance,
persons who do not pay the dog
fees could be fined up to $50.
same cost as expanding ihe present
tail facility. Martin added.
According to Martin, purchas
ing the Pilot building cost around
S 1 2S.(KHi
Repairs that are now being made
to the tool are costing about
$21 .(XX). Mm iin said.
Ihe onh other things that will
be needed for the new building are
equipment and supplies, Martin
said.
" \t present, no estimates ha\e
been made on how much those
things will cost." he said.
With the men constantly work
ing and the weather sia\ing lair,
Martin i^ hoping the renovations
will be completed soon.
"We are shooting lor the end of
\la> o! the first ot June." Martin
said
$23,631
90 4
IOO
80
50
30
60
40
Inside Today
Kicking Off
After two weeks, the I nited
M ay Campaign is o ff and run
ning in Hoke County. H e take
a look at the campaign and the
agencies it h ill he serving in
this week \ Section R of The
News-Journal.